Skip to content
Penn State University Libraries

Law -- Federal Regulations

 

Contact

Helen Sheehy
Title: Head Social Sciences Library


Subject Specialist:
Law, Political Science, International Affairs
814-863-1347
e-mail: hms2@psu.edu

Social Sciences Library

 

Overview

Federal regulations are written by executive agencies to enforce the statutes passed by Congress. They have the force of law, and provide detailed instructions on how agencies intend to enforce laws. In the same manner as federal laws, federal regulations are published in 2 ways and are available in print and electronic form:

  • The Federal Register [FR]
    The chronological version of new regulations, proposed rules, and notices from federal agencies

  • The Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]
    A codified version of regulatory law (arranged by topic) with all obsolete rules removed.

Note: [Penn State Libraries] indicates Libraries' resource available to researchers with a Penn State Access Account.

Federal Register

Online

  • FDSys (Federal Digital System)
    includes 1994 to the present

  • HeinOnline [Penn State Libraries]
    includes 1936 to the present [but has a substantial time lag on most recent issues]

    • Hint: Choose Federal Register Library
  • LexisNexis Academic [Penn State Libraries]
    includes 1980 to the present

    • Hint: click on US Legal
    • choose Federal Statutes, Codes, and Regulations from the left-hand menu
  • LoislawConnect [Penn State Libraries]

    • choose Admin. Rules and Regulations under the Type of Law menu
    • select Federal Register (1999 to the present)
    • click the pink Continue button to get to the search menu

 

Print

  • Federal Register
    Call number: KF70.A2
    Legal Alcove, Social Sciences Library Reference Collection
    2nd Floor Paterno Library

Code of Federal Regulations

Online

  • FDSys (Federal Digital System)
    includes 1996 to the present

  • HeinOnline [Penn State Libraries]
    includes 1936 to the present

    • Hint: Choose Code of Federal Regulations Library. Only online source for older editions.
  • LexisNexis Academic [Penn State Libraries]
    current edition

    • Hint: click on US> Legal
    • Choose Federal Statutes, Codes, and Regulations from the left-hand menu
  • LoislawConnect [Penn State Libraries]

    • choose Admin. Rules and Regulations under the Type of Law menu
    • select U.S. Code of Federal Regulations
    • click the pink Continue button to get to the search menu

 

Print

  • Code of Federal Regulations
    Call number: KF70.A3
    Legal Alcove, Social Sciences Library Reference Collection
    2nd Floor Paterno Library